Washing and filling machines

ABSTRACT

A machine for washing and/or filling containers for liquids comprising conveying means for conveying a succession of containers along a path through the machine, washing and/or filling means positioned along the path for carrying out a plurality of washing and/or filling operations, and control apparatus for the machine, the apparatus including a timer for controlling the duration of each of a sequence of operations, the timer comprising an electronic pulse generator arrangeable to emit timing pulses, a pulse counter arranged to count pulses emitted by the generator, and a plurality of selector means, each selector means being arrangeable to emit a signal to initiate stoppage of an operation when the number of timing pulses received by the counter reaches a number preset on the selector means.

States atent r191 Bowring 1 1 WASHING AND FILLING MACHINES [75] Inventor: David John Bowring,

Wolverhampton, England [73] Assignee: GKN Sankey Limited, Bilston,

Staffordshire, England 221 Filed: Mar. 23, 1972 2| Appl. No.: 237,410

[52] U.S. Cl 141/92, 134/52, 134/62, 134/167, 134/57 R, 141/94, 141/113, 14/168 [51] Int. Cl B081) 3/02 [58] Field of Search..... 141/89, 90, 91, 92, 94, 113 141/48, 63, 168, 171, 172; 134/166, 167, 62

3,648,742 3/1972 Beech l4l/92 Primary ExaminerBilly .l. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [57] ABSTRACT A machine for washing and/or filling containers for liquids comprising conveying means for conveying a succession of containers along a path through the machine, washing and/or filling means positioned along the path for carrying out a plurality of washing and/or filling operations, and control apparatus for the machine, the apparatus including a timer for controlling the duration of each of a sequence of operations, the timer comprising an electronic pulse generator ar rangeable to emit timing pulses, a pulse counter arranged to count pulses emitted by the generator, and a plurality of selector means, each selector means being arrangeable to emit a signal toinitiate stoppage of an operation when the number of timing pulses received by the counter reaches a number preset on the selector means,

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDFEB 1 21974 SHEET. 3 [1F 7 SHEET 6 0F 7 QVQN v a JH I Q r 4 38m 3m 96m 9Q 6cm mmou J P N N QWQN mom Q o N G u If IF PAIENTEU FEB] 2 I974 N N 9cm GEN sou WASHING AND FILLING MACHINES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to machines for washing or filling containers for liquids (e.g. beer kegs) and particularly, but not exclusively, relates to combined washing and filling machines for containers for liquids.

DESCRIPTION THE PRIOR ART When washing orfilling containers for liquids it is usually necessary to carry out a sequence of operations such as, for example, delivery of water into a container, delivery of steam into a container, and delivery of inert gas (e.g. carbon dioxide) into a container, and it is common tocarry out each such operation for a predetermined length of time. Generally each operation has a mechanical or electro-mechanical time clock associated therewith on which the length of the operation may be preset. For example if it is desired to carry out five operations and to vary the length of each operation from time to time then five mechanical time clocks may be used. If the first operation is to last say 30 seconds then the first clock would be set for 30 seconds; at commencement of the operation control apparatus for the machine would start the clock and when the clock registered 30 seconds it would cause the control apparatus to stop the operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a machine for washing and/or filling containers for liquids, which machine comprises conveying means for conveying a succession of containers along a path through the machine, washing and- /or filling means positioned along the path for carrying out a plurality of washing and/or filling operations, and control apparatus for the machine, the apparatus including a time for controlling the duration of each of a sequence of operations, the timer comprising an electronic pulse generator arrangeable to emit timing pulses, a pulse counter arranged to count pulses emitted by the generator, and a plurality of selector means, each selector means being arrangeable to emit a signal to initiate stoppage of an operation when the number of timing pulses received by the counter reaches a number preset on the selector means.

Each operation may have one selector means associated therewith for determining the duration of the operation.

Alternatively an operation may have more than one selector means associated therewith, the control apparatus including a selector switch operable to utilise one of the associated selector means in determining the duration of the operation. This enables more than one desired duration to be preset, as may be desired if the machine is used with containers of various sizes.- For example a desired time for an operation to be carried out on one container size may be preset on one selector means, and a desired time for a second container size may be preset on a second selector means. Dependent on the size of container being processed, the selector switch may be operated to utilise the appropriate selector means.

Preferably the counter comprises a binary coded decimal counter connected to a decoder.

Preferably the pulse generator is arranged to emit timing pulses throughout the operations of the machine, and the timer includes a gate arranged to receive the said timing pulses, which gate is actuated to feed the pulses to a counter when the control apparatus initiates an operation, and is caused to cease feeding pulses to the counter when stoppage of the operation is initiated by a signal from a selector means.

Where the machine is arranged to carry out washing and filling operations, one timer may be provided for controlling the duration of the washing operations, and another timer be provided for controlling the duration of the filling operations.

The machine may include test means to test whether or not an operation has been carried out successfully.

The test means may cause the signal from a selector means to activate a failure indicator if the test means have ascertained that an operation has been unsuccessful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic part sectioned side view of one example of a combined washing and racking ma chine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the conveyor path of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the control apparatus';

FIG. 4A is the upper part of a schematic diagram showing the timers;

FIG. 4B is the lower part of a schematic diagram showing the timers;

FIG. 5 shows part of an alternative control apparatus; and

FIGS. 6 and 6A show parts of a further control apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE In this example, the machine consists of a lower unit 11 and an upper unit 12. The lower unit 11 includes a self-supporting framework arranged to stand on a floor. A chain conveyor (not shown) is arranged to be driven by an electric motor '(not shown) and convey a succession of beer kegs on a straight path along the top of the lower unit 11.

The upper unit 12 is mounted on the lower unit 11, and comprises a bridge extending above and across the conveyor path thus forming a tunnel 20 through which the beer kegs are conveyed. In use, beer kegs are passed onto the conveyor in the inverted position at the left hand side of FIGS. 1 and 2, and pass through the tunnel 20 from left to right as shown by the arrow 10 in FIG. 2. The kegs each first pass to a washing station at 21 where they are washed, and then to a racking station 22 where they are filled. The filled containers leave the machine at the right hand end of the machine.

A washing head 23 is mounted on the lower unit 11 and is movable pneumatically to rise and engage in sealing tight relation therewith the outlet of each inverted keg when it arrives at the washing station. In order that each keg can be filled in the upright position two turnover arms 25 mounted on opposite sides of the washing station 21 may be moved inwardly to grip each keg just below its centre of gravity and turn the keg over.

A racking head 28 is provided at the racking station. A lifting table (not shown) is located below the level of the conveyor at the racking head and may be raised pneumatically to lift the keg off the conveyor at the same time as the racking head 28 is lowered to engage, in sealing tight relation, the outlet of the keg.

The washing head may be connected to a plurality of devices to carry out, in turn, the following sequence of operations:

Supply of air to a keg, to pressure test the seal between the washing head and the keg outlet.

Supply of cold water to the keg.

Supply of steam to the keg, thereby removing the cold water.

Supply of detergent to the keg.

Supply of further steam to the keg thereby removing the detergent.

Supply of hot water to the keg.

Supply of further steam to the keg, thereby removing the hot water.

The racking head may be connected to a plurality of devices to carry out, in turn, the following sequence of operations:

Supply of air to a keg, to pressure test the seal between the racking head and the keg outlet.

Supply of steam to the keg.

Supply of carbon dioxide to the keg.

Supply of beer to the keg.

The time for which each of the above operations lasts may be preset using the timers shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A and 413.

FIG. 3 shows a washer timer 50 and associated controls 51. Connected to the controls 51 are washer input sensors 52, washer operating solenoids 53, and washer indicators 54. There is shown a similar arrangement for the racking part of the machine, comprising a racker timer 55, controls 56, racking input sensors 57, racker operating solenoids 58 and racker indicators 59. The racker input sensors 57 and controls 56 are connected in addition to an electronic beer counter 60.

A pulse generator comprises a sine wave to pulse converter 61 (see FIG. 4A) and a frequency divider 62. The pulse generator has three outputs; an output 63 delivered to the washer timer 50 (FIG. 3) and to the racker timer 55, and two driving outputs 64, 65 delivered to the washer'and racker controls 51, 56.

Thelogic elements used in the machine work with two voltage levels. One level is substantially zero and is designated logic 0. The other voltage is substantially equal to the system supply voltage and is designated logic 1. The two levels are referred to hereinafter as O and l.

. The input 63 comprises a succession of l pulses at a rate of one pulse per second.

A sequence of washing or racking operations is initiated by an input sensor, for example a micro-switch operated by movement of a beer keg. When an input sensor is activated it passes a signal to the controls along line 66 or line 67. The controls actuate appropriate operating solenoids 53 or 58 to commence the first operation, and switch on indicators indicating which operation is being carried out. The appropriate timer is started via line 68 or 69. Prior to the operation being carried out, the timer for which each operation is to continue is manually preselected by selector means forming part of the timers, and when the timer 50 or 55 has recorded a number of one second pulses corresponding to the preselected time a signal is delivered to the controls via line 70 or 71 causing the controls that operate the solenoids to stop the first operation, and cancel the appropriate indicators. The controls also reset the timer to zero via either or both of the two reset lines 73. The next operation is initiated either by the signal delivered to the controls causing the controls to stop the first operation alone or in combination with the operation of an input sensor and causes the appropriate operating solenoids and indicators to be actuated. Further operations are initiated and terminated in a similar manner. When the sequence of operations has been completed the controls not only reset the timer via one or both of lines 73, but also stop it via stopline 72.

The beer counter 60 is activated by a racker input sensor and is operable to count pulses produced by the input sensor. Prior to the operation being carried out the required count is manually preselected by selector means forming part of the counter and when the counter 60 has recorded a number of count pulses corresponding to the pre-selected count a signal is delivered to the racker controls 56. The racker controls are operable to reset the beer counter.

The timers and preselector means will now be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

The washer timer and preselector means shown in FIG. 4A are identical to the racker timer and preselector means shown in FIG. 4B and consequently only the former will be described. For the same reason the timer and preselector means of FIG. 4B are not shown in full. A sine wave to pulse converter 61 and the frequency divider 62 feed a series of l pulses at a rate of one pulse per second to nand gates 3 and 13 forming respectively part of the washer and racker timer. Describing only the nand gate 3, it has two inputs 74, 75 and one output 76. The input 74 receives the series of l pulses as aforesaid and the input 75 is connected to the output of a nand gate memory 5A, 5B. The memory 5A, 58 has two inputs, one designated 5C and the other connected to the output of a monostable element 4. When the input 4A of the monostable element 4 is at voltage 1 the output is also at 1. If the input changes from I to 0, the output changes from 1 to 0 and then returns from 0 to 1 after a given time, thus producing a 0 pulse of fixed duration (e.g. lOOm.sec.). The fixed duration is independent of the time that the input is in the 0 state. The input has to be returned to 1 before a similar action can be repeated.

The two inputs of the nand gate memory 5A, 5B are,

prior to initiation of a sequence of operations, at voltage 1, and in this condition the output from the memory is at voltage 0. If input 5C changes to voltage 0 the output remains unchanged but if the other input changes to voltage 0 the memory changes from one stable state to a second stable state. In the second stable state the output is l and will remain so regardless of the input from element 4, until a 0 signal is applied to input 5C.

On initiation of the first washing operation input to monostable element 4 is changed from voltage 1 to 0. This causes the element 4 to transmit a 0 pulse of predetermined duration to memory 5A, 5B. The memory changes state, and supplies its output of voltage 1 to nand gate 3. While the output of the memory was 0, nand gate 3 had an output of l, but as soon as the memory output changes to 1, the nand gate 3 emits a stream of 0 pulses at one pulse per second. This output is fed to a digital counter 7A.

The counter 7A has ten states to 9, and it changes state successively each time a 0 pulse is received from nand gate 3. When it changes from state 9 to state 0, the voltage of output line 77 changes from 1 to 0, causing a 0 pulse to be fed to the input 78 of a second counter 8A. A decoder 78 is linked to the counter 7A. The decoder has ten output lines 79. When counter 7A is in state 0 the first output line is at voltage 1 and the others at 0. When counter 7A is in state 1 the second output line is at voltage 1 and the other lines are at 0. When 7A is in state 2 the third line is at voltage 1, and so on. Thus for any particular state of the counter 7A only one corresponding line of decoder 73 is at voltage 1, all the other lines being at 0. The output lines 79 are connected to a number of selector panels 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F, as shown.

Since a 0 pulse is fed to counter 8A every time counter 7A changes from state 9 to state 0, it will be appreciated that for every ten Opulses fed to counter 7A, counter 8A receives one 0 pulse. Counter 8A is similar to counter 7A, and has a decoder 88 connected thereto. The output lines 80 of decoder 8B bear the same relationship to the states 0 to 9 of counter 8A as do the lines 79 to the states of counter 7A. The output 81 from counter 8A is connected to the input 82 of a third counter 9A, and hence counter 9A receives one 0 pulse for every ten 0 pulses received by counter 8A. Counter 9A has a decoder 9B similar to decoders 7B and 8B, and both decoders 8B and 9B are connected to selector panels 7C to 7F in the same manner as decoder 78.

A second monostable element 8 is connected to a resetting input 83 on each counter. When the normal 1 input of the element 8 is changed to 0 it delivers a 0 pulse of fixed duration to each of the counters. The resetting inputs 83 are so arranged that whatever state the counters are in, they all return to state 0 when a 0 pulse is received by the resetting inputs, i.e. they each return to the state in which the first output line of the associated decoder is at voltage 1.

The three counters and their associated decoders are used to counter seconds, tens of seconds and hundreds of seconds respectively. Selector panel 7C is arranged so that a wire 21A may be connected to any output line from decoder 78, a wire 21B may be connected to any output line from decoder 88, and a wire 21C may be connected to any output line from decoder 98. Similarly wires 22A, 22B, 22C may be connected respectively to the output lines of the three decoders via selector panel 7D. Selector panels 7E and 7F operate in the same way although the relevant wires are not shown. Each panel may be arranged to deliver a signal when it has received a preset number of timing pulses. If five operations are to be carried out, each for a different length of time, five selector panels are used. The following is an explanation of how selector panel 7C delivers a signal after it has received a preselected number of timing pulses:

It may be desired, for example, to utilise panel 7C to initiate stoppage of an operation after it has lasted for 152 seconds. Wire 21A is connected to the third output line of decoder 7B, wire 21B is connected to the sixth output line of decoder 8B, and wire 21C is connected to the second output line of decoder 913. When the operation is started monostable element 4 is activated as described above causing changeover of memory A, 58 with the result that 0 pulses are fed to counter 7A at one second intervals, and decoder output lines 79 successively assume a voltage of 1. After 2 seconds the third output line and hence wire 21A is on voltage 1. Lines 21A, 21B and 21C are arranged as three inputs to an and gate. The and gate has a fourth input supplied from the washer controls 51 and is selected when it will be at voltage 1. With the fourth input at 1 although line 21A also becomes 1 after 2 seconds lines 2113 and 21C are still on 0 and no signal is emitted by the and gate. After 52 seconds wire 21A will again (for the sixth time) be at voltage 1, and since five pulses will have passed along line 78 to counter 8A, wire 213 will also be at voltage 1. Wire 21C will still be at voltage 0 however and no signal will be delivered by the and gate. After 152 seconds and only after 152 seconds, willwire 21A, 21B, and 21C all be at voltage 1, and at this point a signal will be emitted by the and gate. This signal may be utilised to stop the operation, and to reset the three counters by initiating the feeding of a 0 pulse to monostable element 8, thereby causing a resetting pulse to be fed to counter inputs 83.

Similarly lines 22A, 22B and 22C feed to an and gate which has a fourth input. This fourth input is at voltage 0 until 7D is required. If it were not, unwanted signals could be emitted by the and gate while 7C was counter. For example if panel 7D is set for 22 seconds as shown, the and gate would emit a signal every 22 seconds during the count by 7C of 152 seconds.

The next timed operation will then automatically commence, and when the sequence of operations has been completed, the last signal is used to stop the counter by initiating feeding of a 0 pulse to input 5C of memory SA, 58 thereby causing the memory to change back to its original state thus stopping the flow of pulses from nand gate 3.

The timers may be arranged to limit the maximum time for which an operation is carried out. For example, when pressure testing the seal between the washing head 23 and the opening of a container a pressure switch (not shown) may be arranged to stop the supply of air to the container when a pressure indicative of a good seal has been reached. The timer may be arranged to activate a fail signal if the pressure switch has not operated before a time preset on the timer has elapsed. In such a case the. time chosen would be such that failure of the pressure switch to operate within that time must indicate a leak in the connection between washing head and container.

The timer may control supply of steam in such a way that it activates a fail signal if a temperature sensitive device has not operated within a preset time.

The selector panels may comprise a panel of switches operable to connect the wires 21A, 21B, 21C, 22A, 22B, 22C to the decoder output lines as aforesaid. Alternatively they may comprise panels of sockets into which the wires may be plugged to make the appropriate connections.

The electronic timers described above have the advantage that they are less bulky than the conventional mechanical or electro-mechanical timing clocks. They are particularly advantageous when used with machines which are adjustable to take containers of different sizes.

When washing and/or racking a series of containers of one size, an optimum length of time for each operation may be discovered for that size of container, and

it is convenient to set up the optimum times on the selector panels and thereafter leave them unaltered. For

different size containers however, different optimum times are applicable, and rather than adjust the connections to the decoders each time the container size is changed, it is convenient to provide a set of selector panels such as 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F for each container size, and provide a master switch which is operable to select signals from the appropriate set of panels.

Part of one such arrangement is shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 4A there is one selector panel (7C, or 7C etc.) for each operation, and each set of wires (e.g. 21A, 21B, 21C) from each panel lead to an and gate as aforesaid.

The apparatus shown in FIG. is for use with a machine to be used to process three sizes of beer keg and three sets of panels (not shown) are provided. A set of operation times is set up on each set of panels. Thus for each operation there are three associated panels. FIG. 5 shows part of the controls associated with one operation.

Instead of one and gate associated with one panel for each operation, there are three and gates 90, 91, 92 associated with three panels, and the three output wires (corresponding to 21A, 21B, 21C) from each of the three associated panels are shown as 93, 94, 95.

Each and gate 90, 91, 92 has five input lines namely the three inputs from the associated selector panel, a switching input 96, and a selector input line 97 from the master switch. The three outputs 98 of the gates are connected to an or gate 99. 100 represents part of the input sensors, 101 represents part of the washer solenoids, 102 represents part of the washer indicators, and 103 represents part of the washer controls. The operation is initiated by a signal from that part of the controls governing the previous operation (shown in dotted lines as 104) after successful completion of that operation.

This causes 103 to supply a signal to 101 and 102 to start the operation and activate the appropriate indicator, and also supplies a signal along line 105 to activate the and gate inputs 96. The master switch is positioned (prior to start up of the machine) to select the and gate appropriate to the size of container being processed. In other words a signal is applied to one, and only one, of the inputs 97. This ensures that only the timing signal from the appropriate selector panel is utilised, since it is the only signal to pass from the and gates to the or gate 99 and hence to the controls 103. The other two and gates are inactive because their inputs 97 have not been activated. The signal from the or gate is used in the manner already described to reset the timer, and causes the controls 103 to pass an initiating signal along line 106 to the controls 107 controlling the next operation.

FIGS. 6 and 6A show an alternative arrangement corresponding to the right hand portion of FIG. 4A. The counters 7A, 8A, 9A operate as before but are connected to comparators 207, 208, 209 as shown. The comparators are connected to selector panels 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F in the same manner as decoders 7B, 8B, 9B.

The washer controls 51 are arranged to include a series of units 201D to 204D, one for each washing operation. Inputs lines 201A and 204A lead respectively from the four units (201D to 204D) to the four selector panels 7C to 7F. Two lines, 201A and 202A are shown in more detail in FIG. 6A, and it can be seen that each line has three end branches each including a diode. The lines 203A and 204A are similarly arranged.

Each of units 201D and 204D has an and" gate associated therewith. The and gates are marked 201C to 204C. The output of each and gate leads to the associated unit. One input (2018 to 2048) to each and gate comprises an output from the associated unit. The other inputs to the and gates are common and lead from comparators 207, 208, 209 via line 210.

The branches of each line 201A to 204A are used to set up the desired times for the washing operation in the same way as lines 21A, 21B, 21C, 22A, 22B, 22C of FIG. 4A and the circuitry up to and including the counters 7A, 8A and 9A operates as previously described. Lines 201A to 204A are normally at voltage 1 as are all the lines 79 leading fromthe comparators to the selector panels. Line 21.0 is normally at voltage 0 as are lines 201B to 2048.

The basic initiation signal for an operation is received by the unit (201D to 204D) associated with the operation. Considering unit 201D only, receipt of the initiation signal causes 201D to supply signals to actuate the appropriate operating solenoids and indicators. Also line 201A becomes voltage 0 and line 201B becomes voltage 1. The counters are reset to zero at the instant of initiation of 201D. Since line 201A becomes voltage zero the three lines 79 to which the branches of line 201A are connected also become zero.

Comparators 207, 208,209 are arranged to receive binary coded decimal signals at one side and decimal signals at the other side. They are arranged to compare the signal representing 152 seconds from the three lines 79 which are not voltage zero with the signal received from the counters 7A, 8A and 9A. When, and only when, the signal received from the counters is equivalent to the signal received from lines 79 the three comparators cause line 210 to change from voltage 0 to voltage I. This causes and gate 201C to pass a signal 201D, which in turn causes 201D to terminate its operation, to reset the timer and to initiate the next operation via 202D.

The arrangement of FIG. 6 and 6A reduces the interwiring which is required.

Each selector panel operates in a similar manner.

The counting system for the racking operations may also be shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A.

The controls governing the first of a sequence of operations are of course activated by a signal from an input sensor, and not by a signal from a previous set of controls, and the last signal from the controls governing the last operation of a sequence is used to stop the timer, instead of to activate another set of controls.

The master switch may be operable to cause adjustment of the mechanical features of the machine also. For example the master switch may be arranged to set keg guide rails to a position appropriate to the particular size of keg being processed.

Although only one pulse, generator is shown in the Figures, there may be provided two pulse generators, each comprising a sine wave to pulse converter and a frequency divider of the kind described. One generator may be arranged to generate pulses for the racker timer and controls, and the other to generate pulses for the washer timer and controls.

I claim:

1. A machine for washing and/or filling containers for liquids, which machine comprises conveying means for conveying a succession of containers along a path throughthe machine, washing and/or filling means positioned along the path for carrying out a plurality of washing and/or filling operations, and control apparatus for the machine, the apparatus including a timer for controlling the duration of each of a sequence of operations, the timer comprising an electronic pulse generator arrangeable to emit timing pulses, a pulse counter arranged to count pulses emitted by the generator, and a plurality of selector means, each selector means being arrangeable to emit a signal to initiate stoppage of an operation when the number of timing pulses received by the counter reaches a number preset on the selector means.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 including means to reset the counter to zero after each operation.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which each operation has one selector means associated therewith for determining the duration of the operation.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which each operation has more than one selector means associated therewith, the control apparatus including a selector switch operable to utilise one of the associated selector means in determining the duration of the operation.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the caused to cease feeding pulses to the counter whenv stoppage of the operation is initiated by a signal from a selector means.

7. A washing and filling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which one timer is provided for controlling the duration of the washing operations, and another timer is provided for controlling the duration of the filling operations.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 1 including test means to test whether or not an operation has been carried out successfully. I

9. A machine as claimed in claim 8 in which the test means cause the signal from'a selector means to activate a failure indicator if the test means have ascertained that an operation has been unsuccessful. 

1. A machine for washing and/or filling containers for liquids, which machine comprises conveying means for conveying a succession of containers along a path through the machine, washing and/or filling means positioned along the path for carrying out a plurality of washing and/or filling operations, and control apparatus for the machine, the apparatus including a timer for controlling the duration of each of a sequence of operations, the timer comprising an electronic pulse generator arrangeable to emit timing pulses, a pulse counter arranged to count pulses emitted by the generator, and a plurality of selector means, each selector means being arrangeable to emit a signal to initiate stoppage of an operation when the number of timing pulses received by the counter reaches a number preset on the selector means.
 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 including means to reset the counter to zero after each operation.
 3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which each operation has one selector means associated therewith for determining the duration of the operation.
 4. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which each operation has more than one selector means associated therewith, the control apparatus including a selector switch operable to utilise one of the associated selector means in determining the duration of the operation.
 5. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the counter comprises a binary coded decimal counter connected to a decoder.
 6. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the pulse generator is arranged to emit timing pulses throughout the operations of the machine, and the timer includes a gate arranged to receive the said timing pulses, which gate is actuated to feed the pulses to a counter when the control apparatus initiates an operation, and is caused to cease feeding pulses to the counter when stoppage of the operation is initiated by a signal from a selector means.
 7. A washing and filling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which one timer is provided for controlling the duration of the washing operations, and another timer is provided for controlling the duration of the filling operations.
 8. A machine as claimed in claim 1 including test means to test whether or not an operation has been carried out successfully.
 9. A machine as claimed in claim 8 in which the test means cause the signal from a selector means to activate a failure indicator if the test means have ascertained that an operation has been unsuccessful. 